Citizens for Justice and Peace
Defending Forest Rights in 2021 CJP and AIUFWP stand by Adivasis and forest dwellers amidst mounting challenges
27-Dec-2021
As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to pose new threats via more infectious and deadly variants, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) worked hard to ensure it did not allow vested interests and their stooges in the administration an opportunity to snatch away Forest Rights of…
Committed to sustainable relationship with mother earth: Forest Workers On Forest Rights Day, Adivasis and Forest Workers vow to continue their peaceful struggle for forest rights
15-Dec-2021
On the occasion of Forest Rights Day that is being celebrated today, Adivasis, other forest dwellers and forest working people are once again showcasing a strong commitment to ecological sustainability as well as solidarity with other peaceful struggles for human rights. This is very much in line with a unique declaration made by members of…
Tharu Adivasis refuse to give up their struggle for Community Forest Rights They have filed their objections with the district administration
08-Dec-2021
Since 2013, members of the Tharu Adivasi tribe of Dudhwa region, in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) have been awaiting the approval of their community rights claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA). Procedural delays have kept them deprived of their rights for eight years!…
AIUFWP: New leadership, same values 2nd National Conference of AIUFWP concludes
04-Dec-2021
As many as 7,000 (seven thousand) villages in India are still not recognised as per their revenue to enjoy benefits of the Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA), reported the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) during its 2nd National Conference between December 1 and December 3, 2021. Forest and Adivasi activists gathered in…
Sokalo Gond elected new AIUFWP President Trailblazer promises to carry the torch for Adivasi rights to jal, jangal, zameen
04-Dec-2021
Adivasi and forest rights leader Sokalo Gond was elected the new President of All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) on December 3, 2021 marking the conclusion of the 2nd National Conference of the Union. On Friday, prominent leaders working in the field of defending forest, land and legal rights of Adivasis, other forest-dwelling…
Adivasi struggle led by trailblazers working on-ground: Teesta Setalvad Human rights defender was keynote speaker at AIUFWP's 2nd National Conference
02-Dec-2021
All India Union of Forest Working People’s (AIUFWP), a united front for forest rights struggle, is a unique movement that is led by those women who lead the struggle on-ground, said Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) General Secretary Teesta Setalvad on December 1, 2021. Setalvad was the keynote speaker at the inaugural event of…
AIUFWP’s 2nd National Conference begins Land claims and evictions following the second wave of Covid-19 discussed
02-Dec-2021
Adivasi activists, farmer rights proponents and peasant leaders gathered at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on December 1, 2021 to inaugurate the 2nd National Conference of the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). The three-day Conference brings together various stakeholders in the Forest Rights movement such as Adivasis and Forest Dwelling Community…
Tharu Adivasis fight against wrongful rejection of land rights claims 8 years on, their struggle persists
29-Nov-2021
With resounding the cries of ‘Jal-Jungle-Zameen’ (water-forests-land), forest dwelling communities belonging to Tharu Adivasi community residing in 20 villages in Dudhwa region of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, filed their Objections to denial of community land claims with the district administration. These objections come in wake of rejection of their community land rights claims which they…
The golden glow of marigold garlands is the season’s signature Traditional torans made by Adivasi artisans add beauty to festvities
11-Nov-2021
“Hurry up kids. You work less and chat more,” Jayashree Parade was prodding her children to work faster as they all threaded marigold flowers to make the beautiful garlands which are a must have for all significance prayers and occasions in India. In order to protect and preserve these freshly flowers on the plateau, the…
Attacks on Tharu Adivasis: NHRC issues final warning to UP forest department for inaction The Department has been ignoring the Commission's demand for a report for over a year
22-Oct-2021
In July 2020, the Tharu Adivasis of Kajaria Village in Dudhwa Tiger reserve, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP were assaulted by forest officials and local police who even fired shots in the air, molested women and beat up some youngsters. Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) immediately…
Ever seen rice that floats on water? Officials say the rice is fortified; locals fear the grains may be made of plastic
15-Oct-2021
Adivasi families of Maharashtra’s Wada taluka are shocked. “This is the first time we have seen such rice in our life,” say villagers from Gaurapur, referring to the uncooked rice distributed under the government’s nutrition scheme. The rice is distributed from the Anganwadi centre, and locals alleged it is “made of plastic”. According to Raju Vitthal,…
Koli Bhaji: A feast fit for Gods! Unique rain invoking ceremonies involve offering local vegetables, and performing the Kamadi folk dance
15-Sep-2021
“पाण्या देवा येशी कवा ? नारायणा देवा नवस केला” sing a group of Adivasis, praying to the rain gods to bless them. Their song roughly translated into English goes something like this: “Oh rain gods please shower your blessing on us. Don’t be upset we have prayed to Lord Narayan.” For generations tribal communities have…
CJP impact: A fellowship, that encouraged communities to cross communication barriers It has helped open up a window for Van Gujjars, whose stories are now being shared widely
06-Sep-2021
It has been an interesting year to say the least for me, as an activist who works closely on the rights of the Van Gujjar community to which I belong, and on environmental issues. After I was awarded the CJP Grassroots Fellowship and began chronicling the Van Gujjar community’s lifestyle, tradition, migration patterns, and their…
When Katkaris migrate in search of work, their problems follow One of the oldest Adivasi communities, they are victims of institutional apathy
16-Aug-2021
Migration from one place to another has gone on for as long as history can record. It was according to the change of season, that both humans and animals migrated from one place to another, seeking food, and shelter for survival… and survive they did. However, in modern times one of the factors that fuels…
Forest resource rights vs. Land rights under Forest Rights Act Why it is important to understand the distinction
12-Aug-2021
Chhattisgarh has become the first state to recognise forest resource rights in an urban area by bestowing these rights upon residents of Dhamtari district over 4,127 hectares of forests. Apart from that, the state government also recognised community resource rights over 5,544 hectares of forest within the core area of the tiger reserve area, reported Indian…